Amazon launches new online store for cloud-based software

Amazon Web Services is hoping to make it easier for customers to find Web-based software with today’s launch of AWS Marketplace, a new online store where customers can purchase software and pay by the hour or month.

The new store features products and services from companies such as Couchbase, Check Point Software, IBM, Microsoft, SAP and Zend. It also includes open source offerings like Drupal, MediaWiki and WordPress.

Amazon has already transformed the way that companies deploy backend Web infrastructure through Amazon Web Services. So, do you think it can alter the way software is sold?

Some early adopters believe the online retailer can make a mark, especially since the AWS Marketplace appears to combine strengths in online retail (the new store features one-click purchasing) and its expertise in Web services. The store is divided into three sub-sections: Software Infrastructur; Developer Tools; and Business Software

“AWS Marketplace makes it simple for our customers to access Zend on the AWS cloud and pay only for the infrastructure needed to run their applications,” said Zend CEO Andi Gutmans. “By providing customers a single invoice for combined software and server capacity, businesses can operate more effectively than ever before.”

Here’s a closer look at how it works:

John Cook is GeekWire's co-founder and editor, a veteran reporter and the longest-serving journalist on the Pacific Northwest tech startup beat. Follow him @johnhcook and email john@geekwire.com.